Cards That Offer Airport Lounge Access

Who doesn’t love sitting in an airport lounge on a comfy seat, having free food and drinks away from the hoards of people in the rest of the airport? Before points and miles, I had no idea that regular people could get lounge access. Ha! I thought it was only for people flying Business or First Class.

My single lounge experience back then was when my grandpa bought me a First Class ticket to visit my cousin in New York and I went to the United Lounge at SFO before my flight. It was dreamy, but I definitely didn’t think I’d ever be back.

And yet, here I am eight years later having visited many airport lounges around the world! Although to be fair, I haven’t actually visited the United Lounge at SFO since that first time. But I’m sure I will at some point!

There are many cards that offer airport lounge access as part of their benefits (ya know, for us regular folks), so let’s go over them.

My Favorite Option

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Card is my favorite option for airport lounge access for a few reasons.

First, it has the lowest annual fee ($395) of all the premium cards on the market. I know that fee seems like a lot, but there are many benefits which make up for it!

• $300 annual travel credit
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry statement credit
• Access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and Plaza Premium lounges
• 10,000 account anniversary miles
• No foreign transaction fees
• Tons of transfer partners
• Travel and purchase protections

Lounge access for the whole family

Another reason I love this card: it’s the only one that allows us to get airport lounge access for our whole family. Cardholders get lounge access for themselves plus two guests. Additionally, authorized users are free and each AU also gets two guests. For our family of six, this means that my husband and I are cardholders, then we each bring in two of our children for free.

My husband and I each have a Venture X because we feel like the benefits more than make up for the annual fees for both of our cards. But it’s possible to get a family of six in with just one Venture X. There are two ways to do this. The first option is that one adult signs up for the card and then adds the other adult as an authorized user. However, I don’t recommend this because we don’t want extra cards to count against our 5/24 number if we didn’t actually open them ourselves.

Instead, the second option is to have one adult open the card and then add a child as an authorized user. There is no minimum age requirement for Capital One authorized users. Then, have the other adult use the child’s authorized user card to sign up for Priority Pass. The Priority Pass name and the Venture X cardholder name do not have to match.

How to Use Your Venture X to Get Into Lounges

To get into Capital One Lounges, just show your card and same-day boarding pass. The same goes for Plaza Premium lounges. However, for Priority Pass lounges, you will first need to use your Venture X to sign up for Priority Pass. You can do that here. Once you’ve signed up, show your Priority Pass card (either the physical card or in the Priority Pass app) and your same-day boarding pass to get in.

Check out this link for all of the partner lounges that you can access with your Venture X.

The Capital One Venture X Business includes the same access options as the personal version. The nice thing about this option is that it won’t count against Chase’s 5/24 rule since it’s a business card.

Other Options for Lounge Access

There are other cards that offer lounge access, but none are as comprehensive and cost-effective as the Venture X.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers lounge access for the cardholder only. The annual fee is much higher at $695 per year, and authorized users cost $195 each (rates and fees).

The Amex Platinum includes access to Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs. Authorized users also have access, but no additional guests are included unless you pay a fee. You can also use your Amex Platinum to sign up for Priority Pass, which includes two guests. To enroll, call 1-800-392-1177.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers the same lounge options as the personal card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders get unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club. There are currently just four locations – Hong Kong, Boston, New York (JFK), and New York (LGA). There are further locations in the works, but there is no time frame for when they’re opening.

Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a Priority Pass membership for free. To activate your membership, log on to your Chase account, then select your Sapphire Reserve, then Card Benefits, then Travel, then Complimentary Airport Lounge Access.

Once active, you’ll have access to Priority Pass lounges and Sapphire Lounges, plus you can bring two guests for free.

If you have a Priority Pass membership through another card, you get one Chase Sapphire Reserve lounge visit per year. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card members are not given any lounge access, which is a bummer since it’s everyone’s favorite card!

Co-Branded Cards for Lounge Access

There are also a handful of other cards that offer some version of lounge access. Here’s the list:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card– Priority Pass lounges, two guests are included.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*- Priority Pass lounges, two guests are included.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® – Access to American Airlines Admirals Club, all immediate family or two guests are included.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card– Delta Sky Club access. Starting in January 2025, access is limited to 15 visits per year.
• United Club℠ Infinite Card– Access to United Clubs, two guests are included.
• U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card- Eight Priority Pass lounge visits per year, no guests.
• U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card- Four Priority Pass lounge visits per year, no guests.

*All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Traveling Hansens. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through The Traveling Hansens.

In Conclusion

There are quite a few ways to get lounge access thanks to credit cards. As I mentioned, my favorite is the Venture X since it’s the cheapest option and works for my whole family. However, what works for us may not be best for you. Take a look at the options and your travel goals, and decide the best fit for your situation.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.